Clip for attaching trim objects



June 3, 1952 L. H. FLORA 7 2,598,776

CLIP FOR ATTACHING TRIM OBJECTS Filed 001.. 25, 1950 ATTORNEY Patented June 3, 1952 CLIP FOR ATTACHING TRIM OBJECTS Laurence H. Flora, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Tinnerman Products, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application October 23, 1950, Serial No. 191,599 3'Claims. (01. 24213) This invention relates to spring clips or fasteners which are used in the fabrication of various cabinet constructions, and the like, for mounting or attaching trim and finishing objects and similar articles in the form of elongate plates or strips commonly known as breaker strips, molding strips, sealing strips, etc.

In the fabrication of refrigerator door structures, refrigerator casings and similar types of cabinet structures, it is usually necessary or desirable that a trim strip, breaker strip, molding, or other finishing object be secured in desired position in the complete structure by an operation taking place entirely from'the outer or readily accessible side of the assembly inasmuch as the rearward or reverse side thereof seldom is conveniently or readily accessible for the application of fastening means for this purpose.

The trim or finishing objects preferably are relatively simple designs which may be economically provided in the form of elongateplate-like articles of relatively thin cross-section and made of molded plastic materials in a simple molding operation or in the manner of simple sheet metal stampings, castings, or the like. Breaker strips are advantageously provided in this manner in that there are no projecting parts thereon subject to damage and the same otherwise'may be compactly packaged to reduce the cost of shipping and handling to a minimum. Such trim or finishing objects are provided with a suitable connecting means for easy and quick attachment thereto of spring clip fastening devices designed for mounting the same in an assembly by substantial snap fastening action or otherwise adapted to provide the desired interlock between the finishing object and the supporting structure. One arrangement of such connecting means involves the use of spaced parallel connecting ribs, flanges, or the like, which are provided either as integral portions of the trim or finishing object or as separate elements secured to the underside thereof in any suitable way as by adhesive, welding or other securing means which is not visible on the outer or exposed surface of the trim or finishing object.

Many trim and finishing objects provided by mass production methods, particularly those made of plastic materials, frequently are not uniform throughout their lengths in the space between the connecting ribs and the underside of the trim or finishing object and these irregularities often vary to a relatively wide degree. Consequently, in the use of clips designed only for a specific spacing of the connecting ribs or flanges from the underside of the trim or finishing object, there are usually several clips in an installation which do not secure the trim or finishing object properly with complete effectiveness in the manner intended.

A primary object of this invention, therefore, is to provide an improved spring clip or fastener which is adapted to be attached effectively to such a trim or finishing object despite manufacturing variations and inconsistencies in the spacing of the connecting ribs or flanges from the body of the trim object so that each clip is attached firmly and rigidly to the trim object in such a way as to insure a completed installation which is strong and durable throughout.

A further object of the invention is to'provide 'a fastener of this character in which the fastener head is composed of spaced head sections which are adapted to be attached to a trim or finishing object in interconnected relation with the connecting ribs or flanges on the trim or finishin object together with means providing for a positive lock of the fastener in such attached position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fastener of the kinddescribed which is adapted to be locked in attached position on the trim ob ject and'which may be readily released from such locked position and removed from the trim object.

A further, more specific object of the invention is to provide an improved spring fastener, such as described, comprising a highly simplified construction which is readily provided from a sheet metal blank to define a head member composed of spaced head sections and shank elements extending from said head member together with a locking tongue or detent on the head member for providing a positive lock of the fastener in attached position but releasable and removable from such attached position by a simple manipulation of the shank elements of the fastener.

Further objects and advantages, and other new and useful features in the construction, arrangement and general combination of elements of the improved clip fastener of the invention will be readily apparent as the following description proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, for purpose of illustration but not of limitation, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout, and in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a spring clip or fastener in accordance with the porting plate or panel, or the like;

Fig. 2 is a perspective showing the fastener of Fig. 1 as attached to the breaker strip and se- A which is provided in the form 'of an elongate plate, molding or similar trimrobject. .iSuch a trim object A is provided on'the undersidethereof along its length with a series of pairs of spaced parallel connecting ribs I for the attachment spaced grooves or channels having open outer ends and end walls 3, Fig. 3, at the inner ends of said grooves. The arrangement is such that the spaced grooves or channels provided by said pair of spaced connecting ribs I are adapted to receive and retain similarly spaced head sections on a clip fastener it applied through? the open outer ends of -said connecting ribs I' to a. specific attached position as determined by said end walls 3.

L The clip fastener designated generally IE], is a ...simple.inexpensi.ve article of manufacture which may be constructed from any suitable sheet metal m-Inaterial, .preferably spring metal such as spring steel-or COIdiIOHBd'StGBl having spring-like characteristics. *The devices may be formed from I blanksof various outlines, but from a quantity thereto of the required number of clips or"fas V teners ID for securing said trim object :.to the supporting part B which is usually in the form of a fiange or panelzof a cabinet orcasi-ng constructio or thelike. 7 V

.1 The supporting partB-is provided with a series of holes or fastener receiving openings impredetermined spacedrelation along the path which thetrim or finishing object A'extends'in mounted position and thefasteners H] are attached-to the trim object-A in a corresponding spacingso as to be received in said-openings 5 in the manner of snap studs to secure said trim-object. in'mounted position ofsaid supportingpart B 'Thetrim orfinishing object A preferably is provided in a relatively simple design in the form of an elongate plate-like article made of mol'ded plastic material, or composition or fibre'board', or as a-simple sheet metal stamping, casting, orithe like. Such plastic finishingobjects preferably are provided in this manner inasmuch as there are noprojecting parts thereon subject to breakage and the'same otherwise maybe compactly-packaged to reduce the cost of shipping and handling to a minimum. "The pairs of spaced connecting ribs 1 are provided either as integral elements on the undersurface of the trim or finishing object,

as shown, or on 'a separate block-secured to the underside of said object in any suitable way as v by adhesive, welding or -other meanswhich is not visibleon the outer or exposed surface of the object.

, In this-relation, a further advantage is'obtained in that it is-often necessary or desirable for a saving. ini-material, that the trim or finishing object beef-comparatively thin cross-section'and-usually of insufficient: thickness to conceal a metallic'insertor'threaded screw fastening. In the instant construction, theuse of threaded fasteningsis avoided and: by employing the-improved spring clips in combination with the pairs of spacedconnecting'ribs l on the underside of theobject A,.as aforesaid, the :object may be provided in any selected-decorative configuration and of relatively thin cross-section, and yet rigidly andsecurely mounted onto the .supporting panelB-or other supporting structure and bycompletely concealed fasteningmeans which. donot mar ordetract from the appearance of the trim or finishing object .inmounted position. In the presentexample, the trim object A is providedinwhatis commonly known as a breaker strip which .com-

prises an elongate plate-like member on the underside .of which there are provided. the pairs of spaced connectingiribs in predeterminedspaced relation along the length of said object A. These pairs lof spaced connecting ribs [are so provided as to include" inturnedflanges 2 which are spaced from thebody of the trim objectA anddefine production standpoint, are most advantageously provid'edfrom a comparatively small, generally rectangular blank which may be obtained from standard sheetrmetal 'strip stock with little-loss or wasteof' material.

Thetsheet metal -blank.-,-ior providing the fastener is slit longitudinally todefine a.--pair of head sections [2 on opposite sides of acentral base or body 1 3 ofthe -fastener. The spaced-head sections l2 of the fastener are so provided thatthe outer longitudinal edge portions thereof arereadily slidable in-the grooves defined bythe inturned flanges 2' of the pair of spaced connectingribs l. The corners of the-leading-ends of the headrsections 1 Zpreferably are bevelled as at l 4: toracilitate. the-entrance of sa-id'head sections 21 into. the grooves provided by said; inturned flanges 2- of the connecting-ribs 1; while the trailing ends ot said head sections I 2 are them slightly outwardly and curved or rounded to define resilient bearingportions [5 having reversely. directed extremities. The headsections =l2',-.thus-provided, are readily receivable in the grooves defined bycthe. inturned flanges 2 on the-connecting ribs l= withsaid head sections [2- .engaging said inturned flanges 2 and thew'curved'bearing' portions 15 engaging the adjaoent underside ofthebody of the trimebject-A. .I'heextremities of thesaid curvedbearingportions-15,: however, :extend-freenand out of :contact with the inturned flanges Zxand the. underside .of the trim obj ect A-such that said bearing portions 1 S'permit said head sections *1 2 .to :slideinwardly or outwardly in the grooves definedby the connecting ribs rand otherwise.frictionally-retam said head'sections "I 2 in fixed relation as attached tosaid connecting ribs I.

."Ihe-fastenerbase or body :-i 3 carries avpair of leg members-20, .25, which arer bentsinrthd same: (general direction toone side of said 'fastener :base 13.:to providetheishank ofithezfastener. The "zleglimembers 220i is islightlyiclonger thantheleg-member 25 and both. 10f "said P leg members are "bent intermediate their lengths .to define similar-cam shoulders 2 I; 26,-irespctively, diverging outwardly from the fastenerrbase 13 and merging into similar guide surfaces 22,-: 21, respectively, converging "inwardly toward the respective free ends 23, "28 of'saidleg'members. The free ends 23, 28, respectively;'-.of zsaidi'leg members are bent to extend in substantially parallel and spaced relation with :the -freewend 23: on the longer-leg member '29- slightly overlappingtheend of the shorter -leg'memben25. 'The longer leg member -20- carries a locking tongue or detent -30 which is providedfrom the material: of the fastener-base l3 by a suitable partially slit-portion whichextends into said longer leg member 20. This slit portionriisso cut thatthe free endaof said tongueSB-ds pro-V vided from'the fastenerbase I3 while its other end is integral with said leg 20 and is actually carried thereby such that movement of said leg 20 causes a proportionate movement of said locking tongue 30. The locking tongue 30 is bent to extend in inclined relation in the opposite direction from the leading ends I4 on the head sections I2 and otherwise has its extremity projecting outwardly beyond the general plane of said head sections I2. I

The clip or fastener I thus provided is easily and quickly attached to the trim object or breaker strip A in interconnected relation with the pair of connecting ribs I- by inserting the head sections I2 into the grooves definediby the inturned flanges 2 of the connecting ribs I from the open endswof 'said grooves. The bevels I4 on the leading-ends of the head sections I2 facilitate the initialinsertion of said head sections into said grooves and the fastener is thereupon pushed forwardly until the leading ends of said head sections I2 abut the end walls 3 of said grooves, as shown in Fig. 3, thus locating the fastener in precise, predetermined attached position on the trim object A. In this relation, the curved or rounded bearing portions I5 on the trailing ends of said head sections I2 resiliently engage the underside of the body of the trim object A, as seen in Fig. 3, and cooperate with adjacent portions of said head sections I2, in engagement with th inturned flanges 2, to provide a frictional fit of said head sections I2 in fixed relation with said connecting ribs I.

The locking tongue 30, as stated, extends in inclined relation in the opposite direction from the leading ends Id of the head sections I2, and accordingly, in the aforesaid application of the fastener to attached position, the extremity of said locking tongue 38 slides readily over the surface of the trim object A to such attached position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, whereupon the sharp extremity of said locking tongue 30 becomes effective to bite into the adjacent surface of said trim object A to prevent movement of the head sections I2 in the reverse direction toward removal of the fastener from attached relation with said connecting ribs 1. The looking tongue 30 thus serves to provide a positive lock of the fastener It in its attached position on the trim object A such that there is little possibility of any accidental or unintended removal of the fastener from such attached position. This is important in mass production methods of manufacture in which the breaker strips or other trim objects A are prepared in quantity ready for use with the fasteners I0 preassembled therewith. Such assemblies may then be stacked and handled with little danger of displacing the fasteners from their applied position and with the assurance that the fasteners will be correctly located for mounting the trim object A to the supporting part B in the subsequent assembling operation.

An important feature of the clip or fastener of the present invention resides in the construction by which the fastener is adapted to be locked in applied fastening position by the locking tongues 38, as aforesaid, but with the clip otherwise adapted to be easily and quickly removed from such attached position whenever this may be necessary or desirable as, for example, in the repair or replacement of a damaged member. To this end, the leg members 20, 25, are provided in spaced relation at their respective free end portions 23, 28, such that they are adapted to be compressed toward each other fromtheir normal untensioned relation in the attached position of the fastener on the trim object A, substantially as shown in Fig. 3. Accordingly, inward movement of the longer leg member toward the shorter leg causes a proportionate movement of the locking tongue carried thereby in such a manner that the extremity of said locking tongue 30 is disengaged from the trim object A at the point of contact therewith, whereupon the head sections I2 of the fastener are adapted to be removed from connected relation with the connecting ribs I by sliding the same in a reverse direction to that from which the same were applied thereto. Onlya small spacing of the leg members 20, 25, at their free end portions 23, 28, is required for this purpose, as necessary to provide the required-inward movement of the longer leg member 20 toward the shorter leg member 25, and the greater length of the longer leg member 20 is such as to permit the same to overlap the shorter leg member 25 in compressed relation thereto. I

From the foregoing, it will be understood that in the procedure for mounting a trim object or finishing object A on the supporting part B, as many spring clips or fasteners ID as arenecessary are attached to the pairs of spaced connecting ribs I, in the manner described, and in spaced relation corresponding to the spacing of the fastener receiving openings 5 provided in the supporting part B along the path which the object A extends in mounted position. 'In the mounting operation, the projecting shank of each clip defined by the cooperating leg members 20, 25, is readily entered into the associated panel opening 5 inasmuch as said leg members having a spacing at the leading end of the shank less than the size of the panel opening. Axial pressure is then applied to the outer surface ofthe object A in the area of the head sections of a fastener to move the shank of the fastener axially into the panel opening 5 whereupon the converging guide surfaces 23, 21, cam against the marginal edges of the panel opening to cause a gradual contraction of the leg members 20, 25, as necessary for the cam shoulders 2 I, 26, thereon to pass through the panel opening and ride on the lower corner edges of said opening at the reverse side of said part to the point of most effective fastening engagement. Such tapering cam shoul" ders 2|, 26, adapt the clip fastener for effective application to panelsupports of different thicknesses, within limits, and otherwise provide a suitable axial drawing action on the clip shank to secure the object A tightly against the supporting part B in mounted position. Inasmuch as the spaced head sections I2 of the fastener are interlocked with the inturned flanges 2 of the connecting ribs together with the positive lock provided by the locking tongue 30, as aforesaid, there is no tendency for the clips to become displaced or removed from attached position with the trim or finishing object A during the operation of forcing the clip shanks through the panel openings 5.

The fastener in any form preferably is constructed of relatively thin sheet metal the thickness of which is selected according to service requirements and the predetermined size of the parts secured. The fasteners are most effective when provided of spring metal suitably spring tempered and otherwise treated to give the desired toughness and hardness, particularly in the 1 G358 "lOL dQViCQS. W1fliQ1jL'la1e: used in installations where extreme vibratory v-rr1otion-takes place. :1 A ch ap a d h hly zefiectivefas ner-may :bepro- 1 vided from-cold rolledmetaLsuchas cold-rolled steel which is untempered but. of a; spring metal nature andcapableofv-providingran efiective and reliable fastening-:means in :accordance with the present invention. 1

--Whi1e the invention has-= been described in detail with a specific example, such example is in-. tended ;-as' an --illustration. only inasmuch as changes in the construction and arrangement of the clip or-fastener within the broad-scope of sai l mem a d. 'n oiec ine ou dl f m theupper surface ofssaid fastener base,--sazld iock-.

' ing :tongue havingits free .--end extending. 16111,-

the instant' -disclosurexare fully'contemplated.

What is claimed is:

1. A fastener for securing. a trim 'object 'toa supporting part-,w said trim object having means defining a pair-cf; 1513313661 grooves. at the underside thereof, said fastener ccmprising a piece of sheet metal defining a--base and apair-of spaced head-sections receivable in said 1 spaced grooves on the trim object,- a shank; projecting from-the undersurface of said fastener-base comprising a leg member adapted to be secured'tc saidsupport n pa t and a" ock n tonsue 1 1701 ctins outwardly rfrom the upper surface .of a said fas- I tene'r basea-ndhavingits free=endzextending outwardly beyond said-pair of spaced head sections in position to'engage said'trimobject for locking the fastener".ins'attached position on said trim obi ect.

12: Arfastener for'securing artrim objectgto 'a v supporting part; said "trim objecthavingrmeans defining apair 'ofspaced :groovesizat the underside thereof;said fastener comprising a pieceof sheet metal defining a -base and apair ofspaced wardlybeyondsaid pairofispaced headsections in position :to engage said-trimobject for looking the fastener in=-attached position on said trim object.

v A fastener for securing a'trim objectito a supporting art, wsaid trim object havingtmeans defining a pair of;.spaced grooves rat-the -.underside of: saidtrim object: said 'fastenen comprising ac-piece of sheet mctal bent to define abase and a pair of:spacedvheadsectionsreceivable insai'd spaced :grooveson the trim object, a :pair 10f :ieg members: projecting :from. the; undersuriacexof said fastener base. and adaptedito be lsecmtedvto said suppo12ting:part,.:said :leg :members extending in spaced relation :and being spaced atitheir free ends,- and a' locking tongue :acarried by zme of :said vleg members and: projecting outwardly from the upper surface of said/fastener .base, said locking tongue. having" its free end: extending outwardlybeyond saidpair of spaced head sections-in position to engage said trim-object I for lcckingthe fastener in attachedpositionon said trim object, said locking tongue being adapted to bereleased from said locking relation upon movement of said leg member on which itis provided toward the other leg member.

LAURENCE FLORA.

' "REFERENCES CITED The following references are "of record inthe, file .of this patent.

. UNITED STATES 1?AT N'-IS 

